Bioinspired recognition elements for mycotoxin sensors

Abstract

Mycotoxins are low molecular weight molecules produced as secondary metabolites by filamentous fungi that can be found as natural contaminants in many foods and feeds. These toxins have been shown to have adverse effects on both human and animal health, and are the cause of significant economic losses worldwide. Sensors for mycotoxin analysis have traditionally applied elements of biological origin for the selective recognition purposes. However, since the 1970s there has been an exponential growth in the use of genetically engineered or synthetic biomimetic recognition elements that allow some of the limitations associated with the use of natural receptors for the analyses of these toxins to be circumvented. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the application of bioinspired recognition elements, including recombinant antibodies, peptides, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers, to the development of sensors for mycotoxins based on different transduction elements. Graphical abstract Novel analytical methods based on bioinspired recognition elements, such as recombinant antibodies, peptides, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers, can improve the detection of mycotoxins and provide better tools than their natural counterparts to ensure food safety.

Recent Biosensors Technologies for Detection of Mycotoxin in Food Products

“…The aptamer is referred to the Latin word, aptus means "to fit," which relationship between aptamers and their target look like "lock-and-key" theory [35]. Aptamers usually single-stranded RNA or DNA, which consist of 2-60 nucleotides, which specifically bind to the target, including organic molecules and cells.…”

Electrochemical Immuno- and Aptasensors for Mycotoxin Determination

“…They are selected from random oligonucleotide libraries that can contain up to 10 15 individual sequences. This is made by special protocols, among them the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is mostly known [15]. Until 2007, aptamers mostly consisted of RNA, recently DNA aptamers have become dominant in analytical applications.…”

“…The reaction of aptamer with a target results in changing the environment resulted in optical or electrochemical response. In case of fluorescence aptasensors, changes in the intensity of emission can be observed both in homogeneous solutions and on the appropriate support [15,16]. Besides, the aptamers bearing labels can be folded in three-dimensional structures using specific interactions of partially hybridized items or auxiliary DNA/RNA sequences.…”

“…In them, biochemical components (proteins and nucleobases) are attached to the specific transducers converting a biochemical recognition event into an electric signal [12]. In the case of mycotoxins, specific reactions responsible for biorecognition involve inhibition of acetylcholinesterase [13] and formation of the complexes with specific antibodies [14] and aptamers [15]. Biosensors do not assume complicated sample treatment and a long measurement protocol.…”

European analytical column number 47

“…These heavy metals ions are also identified and detected using electrochemical methods in environment [7] where analytics in water plays a fundamental role regarding contaminants and upcoming antibiotics [8]. Interesting is also the measurement of mycotoxins [9] and their tracking in food using LC-MS/MS [10]. The microplastic pollution of water is an increasing issue worldwide, therefore a review on the challenges for analytical chemistry regarding the analysis of microplastics in the environment has a high citation rate [11].…”